What kinds of goats do I have here???

[ThornyRidge]

I definately suggest getting them some hay.. a good grass hay would suffice. I know my miniature goats prefer an alfalfa based/mixed hay. What was the guy feeding them? Were they out on pasture? Hmmm Go slow with feed changes as it could upset their rumens.. Overall their condition looks pretty good and they appear healthy.. One other suggestion is looking for a loose mineral.. goats have a hard time getting enough from the block based minerals.. with no upper teeth it is hard for them to get enough just by licking the blocks. The alfalfa pellets may be too big and hard for the goats to crunch.. I tried that in supplement to my feed once and the goats actually ate around the pellets.. some suggest soaking them a bit to soften them but I don't think that helps the palatability either.. I ended up dumping a whole bag and stuck with alfalfa hay.

 

[farmerlor]

I agree with Thorny, you'll need to soak those pellets if you want them to eat them and yes, they need to be eating some good hay and grazing on grass when you get some. For treats, try peanuts, carrots, anything sweet, bananas. Yes, I'd definitely try to milk her if I were you.

 

[Biddieacres]

Quote:
What a gal! I like her!

 

[Granolamom]

Well, the man I got them from told me that they refuse to eat hay at all. He's had them out on a pasture, with access to brush, and he's been feeding them sweet-feed and crushed corn.
I tried to give them some veggies today, but they won't touch anything but brush and corn, and a little bit of the goat feed I bought them.
I will get loose minerals tomorrow, and I will try soaking the alfalfa in water, and then hand-feeding it to them.
Other than that, how will I get them to eat hay, if they've never eaten it before??? Oh, and also, why won't they go into the shelter I've made for them? It's 27 degrees right now, and the wind is whipping, but all 3 are snuggled up by the fence, on some rocks, instead of their cozy, 3-sided shed, with a nice, warm layer of straw in it.

 

[Chirpy]

To measure use a tape measure and go from the ground straight up to the shoulder.

I'm thinking there's Alpine in that momma also. They are most certainly adorable goats and I love the colors.

If you want to milk her, go ahead and get started. The only way to know how she will do is to work with her. Be very patient. I'm assuming she's not been milked before? I had to tie down the back legs of my new Nubian that I just taught to milk. But, only for two days and then she stopped fighting/kicking and she's doing very well now. I would rather use a hobble but don't have one. We actually had to life her onto the milk stand for the first four times also before she figured out how to get up on it herself. They learn fast when taught with love and patience. Do you have a milk stand? That makes it 100% easier than tying her to a fence or whatever, but it can be done that way also. You will figure out real quickly if her teats are a good size for your hands and if her orifices even make it worthwhile to attempt milking. Give her a good grain or feed while she is in the milk stand and she will quickly love to get up on it for that treat. Plus, a milker needs the extra protein to help produce all that milk.

I agree that you need to get them on a good quality hay. And, you're right, it may be difficult considering what they have apparently been used. Go slowly with changing feed as it can easily upset their tummies, especially when you add in the move to their new, wonderful, home.

Congrats!

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

In my short 6 months of goat raising experience, you need to keep the hay up off the ground, keep it dry and fresh. With mine, when the hay hits the ground, they do not eat it. Fortunately, my horses clean up all the hay that falls on the ground.

Mine do not like straight Timothy, they only eat the head and drop the rest. Mine have been eatting second cutting Orchard Grass and they go at it.

 

[poohevans]

hi

they all look like pygmy cross goats to me

for its worth

 

[ksacres]

Quote:
They will eat the hay when they get hungry enough. Make sure it's nice green hay that smells good (should have kind of a "sweet" odor). Goats are picky creatures, but they will come around.

As for the shelter, if they can tolerate the temps, goats prefer to sleep outside. My goats only use the shelter if it's raining or truly bitter cold with high winds. It's just the way they are. It's healthy for them too, plenty of fresh air.

 

[farmerlor]

Here's an idea: My goatie would walk on water to get molasses. Dribble some molasses on some hay!

 

[hollyk]

My goats just started eating hay once all the forgage was gone in the pasture. Goats are browsers, they don't readily eat grass. If you feed a goat chow at 12% protein, they are getting all the nutrients they need. Hay, bursh or leaves is needed to keep their rumens working properly. Sweet feed and corn are not the best choices. I will add sweet feed in for my prego does to up the sugar content in the later part of pregnancy. Come spring, I will not have hay out and only a little in the way of feed. My goats are completely healthy, weaning of babies @ 3 months weighing 60 lbs. All goats are different, mine love alfalfa pellets. These are added in for a bit of a treat. Straight alfalfa hay makes mine into rolley polleys. Goat are really not hard to handle if you don't micro-manage them.
I do think there is some pigmy mixed with what looks to me as spanish or fainting (mytonic) goats. The cute ears is what gives it the "look" for me.

Goats are the funnies thing to have around! Enjoy.

Don't tell anyone, but we raise "meat' goats- Boer.

They taste nothing like chicken!